2023 Pollie Awards & Conference

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Scholarship Recipients Share Impressions of Pollies ’22

Thanks to your generous donations, the AAPC Foundation provides scholarships to students who have shown a career interest in political consulting and public affairs an opportunity to attend the annual AAPC Pollie Awards & Conference.

In 2022, the AAPC Foundation selected Sandra Bustamante, Aidan Levinson, and Kevin Zhang. We caught up with them to talk about her experience at the 2022 Pollie Conference.

 

“I wanted to reconnect and express my gratitude and appreciation to receive the scholarship for the 2022 AAPC Pollies Awards & Conference! I was able to attend breakout sessions with highly anticipated and educated speakers to learn about issues facing the political consulting and public affairs realm. The AAPC Conference introduced many different career possibilities (which may take an individual decades to find) and for that I am also grateful.

I also simultaneously made meaningful connections with professionals that were working in spaces that I found interesting to pursue in my future career. In fact, I am still scheduling one-on-one’s with attendees to this day! 

I am forever grateful for the opportunity, the work of AAPC, and your guidance while there!”

Sandra Bustamante 

 

“I am very thankful to AAPC for the opportunity to attend the Annual Conference & Pollie Awards! Aside from meeting a whole host of professionals in the political consulting space, I gained valuable insight into the trends of the day in the political consulting world. Also, hearing from professionals in areas of political consulting I have not worked in before was especially interesting, which I hope will allow me to eventually expand my work into those fields. I made new friends and was able to meet new colleagues for which I am very grateful.”

Aidan Levinson

 

“During the AAPC Pollie Conference, I had the chance to absorb different aspects of the political campaign and consulting industry from leading experts with decades of experience and first-hand knowledge of how the industry has been involved in the recent decade. I learned about how emerging technologies and innovation have influenced political advertising, voting methods, and campaigning. Insights provided by industry-leading experts have given me a better understanding of the American political process and the importance of campaigns and fundraising in politics. Many speakers and attendees were incredibly approachable and helpful to scholarship recipients and took the time to learn about our background and interests. While the overwhelming number of conference participants may seem intimidating initially, the staff was supportive. I had no trouble connecting with other participants since they were all welcoming and willing to help, which made networking so much easier. My favorite part of the conference was the Caucus Sessions, divided by Republicans and Democrats, where I got to hear exclusive insights into my Party’s strategy in the 2022 midterm elections. I also developed friendships with other scholarship recipients and their interests in politics and campaigning. I recommend anyone interested in campaigning apply for the AAPC Scholarship. Attending the AAPC Pollie Conference can provide new insights, opportunities, and lasting relationships!”

Kevin Zhang

2023 Southern Regional Conference

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2023 Pollie Contest Regular Deadline is January 27

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AAPC Applauds Twitter’s Decision To Allow For Political Speech and the Democratic Process

January 5, 2023

 

AAPC Applauds Twitter’s Decision To Allow For Political Speech and the Democratic Process

 

MCLEAN, VA – The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) applauds Twitter’s decision
to allow cause-based ads and the return of political advertising on the platform. Social media platforms
are a critical means for campaigns to reach a broad audience of voters, especially young and diverse
audiences who may not access traditional forms of media.

“Twitter’s plans to reinstate cause-based advertising on its platform is a major win for the democratic
process and the ability for campaigns to inform voters about issues they care about,” said Becki Donatelli,
Republican consultant and President of AAPC.

AAPC also applauds Twitter for stating their advertising policy will align with that of TV and other
media outlets.

“Leveling the playing field for political advertising allows candidates and issue organizations to clearly
communicate with voters across all demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, especially as
consumer media habits change. Newer platforms, like streaming tv and radio, should follow Twitter’s
example to allow direct communication with voters,” said Larry Huynh, Democratic consultant and Vice
President of AAPC.

AAPC steadfastly supports the foundational principles of political free speech enshrined in the U.S.
Constitution and urges full access to social media networks, email service providers, texting platforms,
and digital news and content publishers for all official campaigns and political and non-profit
organizations.

AAPC believes that suppression of political advertising ultimately reduces the ability of people to
participate and learn about the democratic process – including the candidates, and political organizations,
and policy issues that matter to them. Suppressing advertising is restricting free speech and an official
campaign's ability to reach a broad community online.

AAPC stands ready to work with all media partners to develop strong policies to uncover and stop
misinformation while protecting free speech for campaigns and issue advocacy efforts.

About AAPC
Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a multi-partisan organization of political and public affairs professionals
dedicated to improving democracy. The AAPC has over 1,600 members hailing from all corners of the
globe. It is the largest association of political and public affairs professionals in the world. The AAPC
Foundation supports efforts to protect free speech, defend democracy, and prepare the next generation of
political consultants to thrive. For more information, see www.theaapc.org.

 

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AAPC Holiday Office Closure

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2023 Pollie Conference Registration is Now Open!

After registering you’ll get access to book your hotel reservations within our discounted block of rooms at the luxurious conference host hotel, La Quinta Resort & Club. The room block will fill up quickly and our group rate of $299 will not be available after the block is full, so don’t delay!

Where: La Quinta Resort & Club, La Quinta, CA

La Quinta Resort & Club is located in the beautiful Coachella Valley, a short drive from Palm Springs.

When: April 18-20, 2023

Register now!

Interested in showcasing your company in Palm Springs? Contact Debbie Thomas to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities!

AAPC Files Comments Citing Concerns with Proposed FCC Rules on Text Messaging

November 11, 2022

CONTACT:

Robyn Matthews

Director, Advocacy and Industry Relations

703-935-2282

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

AAPC FILES COMMENTS CITING CONCERNS WITH PROPOSED FCC RULES ON TEXT MESSAGING 

AAPC Supports Industry Efforts to Target Scam and Spam Text Messaging While Protecting Political Free Speech

 

MCLEAN, VA – The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission yesterday regarding a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Targeting and Eliminating Unlawful Text Messages. AAPC’s Comments, on behalf of its more than 1,600 bipartisan members hailing from all across the United States, oppose the proposed rules citing First Amendment concerns, authentication protocols, and the timing of implementation that could adversely impact voter contact and opinion research efforts before the 2024 Presidential cycle.

AAPC members are experts on political campaigns and are skilled in general consulting, digital campaigns, media buying, polling, data and analytics, fundraising, and campaign technology.

View AAPC’s Comments 

The FCC released the NPRM on September 27, 2022, and it was published in the Federal Register on October 11, 2022, prompting a 30-day public comment period. The FCC has until November 25, 2022, to respond to public comments.

 

About AAPC
Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a multi-partisan organization of political and public affairs professionals dedicated to improving democracy. The AAPC has over 1,500 members hailing from all corners of the globe.  It is the largest association of political and public affairs professionals in the world. For more information, see www.theaapc.org.

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New Event! 2022 Midterms: Straight from the Strategists

Get a first look behind the pivotal moments and key decisions of the cycle—from the people that made them!

A bipartisan panel of leaders from the major party committees and IEs will share their perspectives on competitive House and Senate campaigns and what factors– planned and unplanned—influenced their thinking throughout the primary and general campaigns.

This “first draft” download of the 2022 Election will be moderated for the political consulting industry by AAPC President Becki Donatelli and AAPC Vice President Larry Huynh.

Attendance to this event is by invitation only and is limited.  There is no fee to register, but you must be an AAPC member, sponsor or invited guest of the AAPC to attend.  Click here to request an invitation.

When: November 15th, 2022

Where: Hilton Washington D.C. Capitol Hill. 

Attendance to this event is by invitation only and is limited.  There is no fee to register, but you must be an AAPC member, sponsor or invited guest of the AAPC to attend.  Click here to request an invitation.

AAPC Condemns Netflix Decision To Deny Access for Political Speech and the Democratic Process

October 13, 2022

CONTACT:

Alana Joyce
Executive Director
+1 703-245-8021
[email protected]

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

AAPC CONDEMNS NETFLIX DECISION TO DENY ACCESS FOR POLITICAL SPEECH AND THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

MCLEAN, VA – The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) opposes Netflix’s decision to ban political campaign and issue ads on Netflix’s ad-supported streaming service. Streaming services have become a critical means for campaigns to reach a broad audience of voters, especially young and diverse audiences who may not access traditional forms of media.

“We condemn Netflix’s decision to not accept campaign and issue ads on their streaming service,” said Becki Donatelli, Republican consultant and President of AAPC. “Blanket political ad bans on platforms gag legitimate, fully disclosed campaign and policy advertising by lawful candidates and organizations.”

Netflix’s decision of banning political campaign and issue advertising is against free speech, a cornerstone of our democratic society. AAPC steadfastly supports the foundational principles of political free speech enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and urges full access to social media networks, email service providers, texting platforms and digital news and content publishers for all official campaigns and political and non-profit organizations.

“A blanket ban on political ads is inequitable and will make it harder for people of color and young voters to get information on candidates and issues,” said Larry Huynh, Democratic consultant and Vice President of AAPC.

AAPC believes that suppression of political advertising ultimately reduces the ability of people to participate and learn about the democratic process – including the candidates, and political organizations, and policy issues that matter to them. Suppressing advertising is restricting free speech and an official campaign’s ability to reach a broad community online.

AAPC stands ready to work with all media partners to develop strong policies to uncover and stop misinformation while protecting free speech for campaigns and issue advocacy efforts.

 

About AAPC
Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a multi-partisan organization of political and public affairs professionals dedicated to improving democracy. The AAPC has over 1,500 members hailing from all corners of the globe.  It is the largest association of political and public affairs professionals in the world. For more information, see www.theaapc.org.

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